News about agriculture in New York State and information farmers and consumers can use in their daily lives.

Tuesday, February 21, 2017

New York Farm Show Opens Feb. 23 st State Fairgrounds

The 2017 New York Farm Show is the place
to visit this winter for information on new innovative farm and woodlot
products and equipment.

The 32nd edition of the show runs from
8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 23, 24 and 25 at the New York State Fairgrounds
in Geddes, west of Syracuse.

The annual show hosts more than 400
exhibitors in six heated buildings, including the Arts and Home Center,
Center of Progress, Dairy, Horticulture, and Science Buildings, and
International Pavilion.

“It’s a spring planning show,” New York
Farm Show manager Scott Grigor said. “It gets people out of the house.
The economy is off a little, and it helps people enjoy life a little
bit.”

The show had 406 confirmed exhibitors as
of Jan. 11 with more expected, Grigor said. There are 13 new
exhibitors this year, including Yanmar Tractor of Georgia

Exhibit area covers more than 222,000 square feet of space.

Topics
covered by seminars includes: beef, forestry, and health and safety.
There also will be the popular FFA toy auction and 4-H members will
again be selling hitch pins as a county fundraiser. They are offering
Tisco
6-by-¾-inch hitch pins at $5 each or five for $20. They will be located
at the main entrance doors of the Center of Progress, Dairy and
Horticulture buildings.The New York Center for Agricultural
Medicine and Health will offer information on ROPS (rollover protective
structures), safe skid steer operation, blood pressure screenings and
youth safety activities.

The center also will again have its farm
hazards display board set up to help people identify hazardous
situations on the farm. It will supply information on PPE (personal
protective equipment) selection and catalogs and applications for the
John May Farm Safety Fund, and roadway safety tips in conjunction with
the state troopers.BEEF SEMINARSHere are some of the beef seminars from the New York Beef Council to be held in the beef area of the Toyota Building:Daily presentations beginning at 10 a.m. will feature:10 a.m.: ABCs of EPDs - Phil Trowbridge, Trowbridge Angus11 a.m.: Trace Minerals - Its role on the Cattle Immune System, Dr. Bob Gentry, MultiminNoon: Quality - The Consumer Expectations, Jean O’Toole/ Katherine Bronson, NYBC - ThursdayNoon: Beef Up Your Marketing, Jean O’Toole/ Katherine Bronson, NYBC - Friday1 p.m.: Johne’s - What it is and Programs Available, Dr. Melanie Hemenway, NYSCHAP 2 p.m.: Unraveling Official Identification, Dr Jane Lewis, USDA Ag. And Markets3 p.m.: Beef showmanship clinic, Robert Groom/ Jeanne White- Thursday3 p.m.: Fitting clinic, Robert Groom - Friday

Saturday
will be dedicated to youth doing the presentations on different related
beef topics. Grab a seat on the bleachers as these young individuals
demonstrate their experiences and knowledge of the beef industry. Jean
O’Toole, the new executive director of the New York Beef Council, and
Katherine Bronson will open the presentations.10 a.m.: How to Master “Agvocacy,” Jean O’Toole/ Katherine Bronson, NYBC11 a.m.: Our National Livestock Judging Experience in Louisville, KY- By Melissa Keller, NY Junior Beef Producer11 a.m.: Three Ways to get Involved with the Beef Industry, Megan Cranwell, NY Junior Beef ProducerNoon: What I Learned about NYBC (NY Beef
Council) through C2C (Cattlemen to Consumers) Program, Jala Murphy, NY
Junior Beef Producer12:30 p.m.: What Telling our Story Means and Why We Should, By Sam and Sarah Birdsall, NY Junior Beef Producers1 p.m.: Small Steps to Becoming Socially Savvy in our Beef Industry, By Anna King, NY Junior Beef Producer1:30 p.m.: Important Factors When Doing a
Project Beef Animal for Sales at County Fairs - Feed, Nutrition,
Record-keeping, Animal Care, Marketing, etc., By Daisy Trowbridge and
Jordin Radley, NY Junior Beef Producers2 p.m.: Primal and Retail Beef Cuts, By Loretta and Suzie Lippert, NY Junior Beef ProducersAs you attend the presentations enjoy a hot beef sundae served up daily by the New York Beef Producers, starting at 11 a.m.

The New York Beef Council will have a
face-to-face presence at this year’s NY Farm Show! Stop by to “Beef
Together” with the NYBC’s innovative marketing initiatives to promote
YOU, our farmers, and the quality beef you produce.

A live beef cattle display representing
numerous beef breeds will enhance our Beef Area, including breed
information to take home.

Engage with the “Face of Our Farmers.”
Beef Farmers have filled out questioners to help you get to know them
better. Engage in a conversation with beef producers, see their likes,
dislikes and ask them beef related questions. Pick up a Scavenger Hunt paper at the
Beef Gazebo and then read our “Face of our Farmers” posters to get your
answers and win a prize.

Beef recipes and beef related information also will be available in the beef area for attendees to take home and enjoy.FOREST SEMINARSFree programs to help landowners get
more benefits from their woodlots will be presented by the New York
Forest Owners Association each day of the New York Farm Show.Visitors to the show can meet with a
forester from the State Department of Environmental Conservation or
speak with a Cornell trained volunteer. Visitors are encouraged to bring their
questions and pause at the booth area before or after attending a
seminar program. The DEC foresters and trained volunteers are there to
help with resource materials, displays and expert advice.

“Learn More, Earn More” seminars are
free and open to all. Topics include federal cost sharing for woodlot
improvements, working with foresters, improving bird habitat, heating
with wood, and forest farming. Programs start on the hour and allow time
for questions and discussion.

The booth is on the main corridor of the
Arts and Home Center, and the seminars are held in the Somerset Room
just steps away on the lower level of the building.These programs are presented by the New
York Forest Owners Association in cooperation with the state Department of
Environmental Conservation, Cornell Cooperative Extension and SUNY College
of Environmental Science and Forestry.